Panel-supporting frame



NOV. l1, 1952 l- BEHR PANEL-SUPPORTING FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.26, 1946 Nov. 11, 1952 l.. J. BEHR PANEL-SUPPORTING FRAME 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Deo. 26, 1946 Fail? INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Iwall I2.

ed, as indicated at I3, to give an improved and Patented Nov. 11, 1952UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PANEL-SUPPORTING FRAME Leo Joseph Behr,Bridgeport, Conn.

Application December 26, 1946, Serial No. 718,553

2 Claims.

This invention relas to a portable chest, and has for an object toprovide a compact, light weight chest, attractive in appearance, adaptedto carry a large number of'articles, and to carry them in such a waythat they are easily accessible, so that practically any article can beremoved and used without disturbing the other articles, and especially achest to carry a large number of such articles as one may use Whiletravelling or away from home.

Another object is to provide a chest which will not only be ornamental,and in which not only treasured articles, such as photographs, serviceribbons, various other insignia, and the like, may be carried, but alsoa large number of useful articles, such, for example, as writing paper,envelopes, stamps, pencils, pens, everything required for writing;various games, such as cards, checkers, dice and the like; varioustoilet articles, such as shaving paraphernalia, compacts, lipsticks, andsmoking articles, such as cigarettes, lighters, and so forth.

A further object is to provide a device which is easily portable, whichhas means, either as a part of the device or as a removable element, forconveniently holding a writing pad or sheet of paper while writing, andwill furnish illumination so that it may be used when the usual lightingis cut off, or in camp, for example.

With the foregoing and other objectsv in view, I have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention isnot limited to the specific details of construction andar-rangementshown, but may embody various changes and modications within the scopeof the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved chest with the front and topclosures, open to l show the interior, and parts broken away to morclearly show the construction; v

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view;

Fig. 4 is a view with the secondary front closure removed, and also aninner frame removed;

Fig. 5 is a front View of this inner frame;

Fig. 6 is an edge view thereof looking from the right of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a cross section substantially on line f -l of Fig. 5.

The device comprises a `chest or container I including a rear wall, sidewalls II, and Va front Preferably the front corners are A,roundmoreattractive appearance and a more streamlined eifect. These walls form aninner space closed at the bottom by the bottom wall I4 and which spaceis divided up into various compartments. The whole device may besupported on suitable cushioned feet I5 at the four corners, of anysuitable material, such as rubber or the like. The chest may be made ofwood, molded plastic, fiber or cardboard, light metal, or any othersuitable material, but should preferably be of light weight.

Spaced backwardly from the front wall is an upright dividing wall I6spaced at its lower edge Il above the bottom I4, and extendingrearwardly from this lower edge to the rear wall of the container is ahorizontal wall I8 forming with the rear wall and the wall I6 acompartment I9 open at the top, and with the bottom wall I4 under thiswall I8 a compartment 2l) open at the front. In this upright wall I6,and extending downwardly from its upper edge, is a substantiallyV-shaped recess 2|, so that the side edges 22 are inclined. Mounted inthis recess is a frame 23, shown more in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.This frame comprises substantially U-shaped side members 24 connected atthe bottom at 25, with their open sides facing inwardly, and these sidesare inclined substantially the same as the inclined edges 22 of theopening in the upright wall i6, and therefore this forms a substantiallyV- shaped frame open at least on one side, and preferably open on bothsides. Within the framel is a preferably black pillow or pad 26 ofpreferably fibrous material, as felt or cloth covered felt,.on

i which may be mounted various articles orv in-` signia, such, forexample, as service ribbons 2l,-

which may be pinned to this pad or pillow, theedges of which extend intoand are supported by the U-shaped frame members 24. These may also beconnected at the top by a transverse piece 28. Other articles, such, forexample, as photographs 29, may be mounted on the pad, and then thesearticles may be covered and protected by.

transparent sheets 30 of suitable plastic or other similar material,also extending at their edges into the U-shaped frame members 24. Forymounting this device in the opening 22 inA the, upright wall I6, theyare provided on at leastv grooves 33 along the edges of the frame whichof the opening in the upright wall or partition I6 may receive and seatover the inclined edges 22 to mount this device in this opening. Byproviding members 32 on both sides of the frame it may be supported andreversed with either side facing toward the front. In this way, diierentarticles may be mounted on the opposite sides of the pad 26, and eitherheld concealed or turned for display, as desired. This frame whenremoved, with the photographs and other articles in it, may be used asan ornamental display device by itself and mounted in a plastic frame orstand or other device to hold it in an. upright position on a dresser,table, shelf or the like.

Mounted on the front face of the upright wall or partition I6 areholders for various articles, such, for example, as holders 34 forpostage stamps 35, a thermometer 3B, holder or frame 31 for a calendar38, means for mounting a barometer 39, and other articles, as. desired.Within the large compartment between the upright Wall lr6 and the rearwall may be placed suchy articles as-writing paper and envelopes 41, amemorandum and address book 4|, postcards 42, Christmas. seals 43, and alargenumber oi. other. articles, as desired. In the lower compartment25J opening to the front may be placed packages M ofplaying cards,cigarettes and the like, or there may be placed in this aseries ofupright boxes or containers [i in which. may bel placed various articlesin the nature of games, such as cards, dice, checkers and the like:toilet articles, such as razors, razor blades, lipsticks, compacts, andthe like; any one of which containers may be readily removed to makeallthe articles easily accessible.

As will be seen in Fig; la, the upright wall i6 is spaced rearwardlyvfrom the front wall l2. Inv thisfront wall is an opening, which may ceclosed by a closure i5 preferably hinged atr its lower edge so that itmay be swung downwardly and outwardly. This closurey forms a convenientsupport for a pad or writing paper 4l', and may be provided. with atransverse bar or strap S on which the cardboard back 49 cf the writingpad may be inserted, as shown in Fig. i, to support the pad on thisclosure in convenient writing position. The chest may be held on the lapwith. this closure down to hold the paper sheets in convenient positionfor writing.

- At the opposite sides of the opening the front walls I2 are extendedbackwardly and inwardf ly, as indicated at 5B, providing spaces betweenthe front wall and the upright wall I6 on opposite sides oi the opening.These walls 50 do not extend back to the Wall IS, but are spacedforwardly from it, as shown. In one side, preferably the left handYside, is mounted a small lamp 5l, which throws light between the rearedgeof the wall 58 and the upright wall IS, to illuminate the variousarticles in the chest, and also, by indirect illumination, the pad ilfor writing purposes. battery lamp operated by small dry cells in thechest itself, or it could be a type of lamp to be operated from anyhouse` wiring system. For this purpose an extension conductor cord 52may be provided connected with the lamp and extending outwardly throughthe bottom wall I3 on the underside of which may be fastened one or morestraps or spring clips 53 on which the cord may be wound, as shown in 3,when not in use, and the cord may have the usual attachment plug cap 511to plug into the This light may be a small accessible and removable foruse.

4 usual outlet receptacle in the house wiring system, and the lamp maybe controlled by any suitable type of switch 55.

On the opposite side of the front opening between the front wall l2 andthe upright wall l5 may be provided suitable holding devices for writingtools, such as pencils 56, pens, and the like, and to make them morereadily accessible they are supported in a suitable elevator, comprisinga cup 51 supported on an upright extension 58 having a lateral extensionor grip 59 extending through a vertical slot 60, where it is accessiblefor raising the cup 51 and the pens, pencils, or similar articlessupported therein, to carry them upwardly where they are easily Anangular guide and support El may be provided above the cup 51 to preventthe articles from falling out ofv the cup.

On the inner sides of the inwardly extending walls 5!! is. aguideway 62,one .on each side. This. isv preferably formed by a pair of spaced stripmembers. 63 secured at their outer edges to the walls. Theseprovidevertical guideways for the opposite edges of a secondary or innerclosure 84. This. closure may be a frame. carrying certain ornamentalarticles or a mirror,` or it could be a frame for photographs 65 with.al transparent or similar cover G6 over it, andy it. preferably has arigid. back 61 which willform. asupport for a writing pad or a sheet,ofpaper. As this frame or closure is easily removable. from. the chest.by. simply sliding it upwardly.. and out the top of the. guides E2, itmay be, used independently and separately from the, chest, and. thusused, for example, `by an invalid. in a bed, as a tray or support forhis writing paper', or held in the lap. by onev sitting inA a chair, sothat it is not necessary to, hold the. entire chest in his lap or on asupport near him, as would be the case in using the front closure 46.The articles in this frame 64 are easily removable. Thus, if. a red paneof glass which absorbs actinic rays is inserted in this frame instead oftheother articles. this whole chest could be used as a darkroom lamp indeveloping lms or prints from films, or, if preferred, a red transparentcylinder 68 could be placed around the lampl 5l to absorb the actinicrays, to permit the use of the, device as a darkroom lamp. The wholeupper part of` the chest may be closed by a suitable. closure or cover69 in the inner side of' which may be mounted a mirror 10. preferablyhinged to the upper edge' ofv the rear.l wall of the chestand preferablyhas peripheral side walls 1l to enclose and seat` on a rabbeted orreduced upper. edge 12 of the body of, the chest, so that when closed itforms a continuous outer surface for a better and more attractiveappearance. Any suitable catch 13 is provided for the top and frontclosures to hold them 1n the closed position.

It will be apparent from the above that this novel construction andarrangement provides a very attractive compact chest, in which a largenumber of various types of articles may be packed for easytransportation and use as desired. Various writing articles, such aspaper, pens, pencils, rulers, blotters, and so forth, may be easilycarried where they are readily accessible, and various toilet articles,such as lipsticks, compacts, razors and other shaving necessities,combs, nail files and `other toilet accessories, also variousgames, suchas checkers, cards, dice and so forth; and if desired, the outer surfaceof theback wall This closure is of the chest may be provided with thesquares of a checkerboard. Not only may various useful articles, asenumerated, be carried in this chest, but various ornamental articles aswell, such, for example, as photographs or certain prized pictures,military ribbons and various insignia, as described. As a matter offact, it makes a substantially all-purpose chest which is readilycarried, and in which any of the numerous articles contained in it arealways accessible without disturbing the other articles. It may becarried by a hand strap provided over the top (not shown) or a longerstrap to go over the shoulder in the manner common in carrying cameras,ladies handbags, and the like. As it has a lamp of its own, variousarticles in the container are illuminated so that they may be readilylocated in the dark, and this lamp can also be used for illuminatingwriting paper while being used. It will be understood that only a smallnumber of the various articles that can be placed and carried Y in thischest have been mentioned, and that an valmost unlimited number of otherarticles may be provided, those mentioned being noted merely by way ofexample.

It is especially adapted for use by travelers in trains, airplanes andthe like, invalids in bed or in hospitals, soldiers in camp, sailors onships, or people in homes.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a substantially V-shapedframe comprising side members provided with longitudinal outwardlyyopening grooves in their outer side edges adapted to receive thesimilarly inclined edges of an opening in an upright wall to besupported thereby, land said side members also being provided withinwardly facing grooves in their inner side edges to receive a supportin the frame adapted for mounting various articles.

2. In a device of the character described, a substantially V-shapedframe comprising side members of substantially U-shaped cross sectionarranged with their open sides facing inwardly, a support extendingbetween the side members with its opposite side edges extending into andsupported in said open sides of the U-shaped members and adapted tomount various articles, and a member extending along at least one sideof each of said side members and spaced from -them to form grooves withtheir open sides facing outwardly and adapted to receive the similarlyinclined side edges of an opening in an upright wall to support saidframe therein.

LEO JOSEPH BEHR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

